Palatine siren system needs major review

What or who is responsible for warning Palatine residents of weather peril? At no time during either major storm in 2011 have the sirens been activated.

I have lived in Palatine since 2000 and the Storm Warning System has been comical at best. Once in 2003 the sirens sounded after my Direct TV came back on and the WGN Weather Center showed that the storm was over Lake Michigan at the time. This, however, is not a laughing matter.

What triggers the activation? There have been two occasions this year and another in 2010 when high winds and lightning have endangered people with no warning. If this is a human factor, someone is asleep at the switch. If it is a computer error, no one will be surprised.

I know it costs taxpayers huge money for this “service.” If it costs 10 cents to figure out why it is ineffective, I suggest we scrap it altogether, rely on our instincts to determine weather danger and expect lower taxes in the future. Maybe next time I see bad weather rising I’ll drive over to Village Hall and suggest someone look out the window or tune to Channel 9.

Brian DeValk

Palatine